﻿Pakistan fall in Test rankings

Karachi: Pakistan’s series-winning triumph against Bangladesh in Dhaka last week failed to save them from a slump in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test rankings.

Pakistan’s 1-0 series win over Bangladesh was not enough to stop them sliding down the table. Ranked third on May 4, Pakistan dropped to sixth after the update, level on 97 rating points with England but below them when measured out to beyond the decimal point.

England also dropped in the ICC Test team rankings, while New Zealand and India are the big winners after an annual rankings update by cricket’s governing body. There was no movement at the top of the rankings, with South Africa retaining the world No.1 spot and the ICC Test Championship mace, sitting 22 rating points clear of Australia in second place.

Only three points separate the teams ranked 3-7, with England, ranked No.3 as recently as January, dropping to fifth after failing to secure a series win against the West Indies.

In January, New Zealand were ranked seventh, but the Black Caps’ improved form was rewarded with a jump to third spot, meaning they will head in to this month’s Test series against England ranked higher than their hosts.

England will drop to seventh if they lose the two Test series against New Zealand, but will jump to third with a series victory.

Winning the series will not be enough for the Black Caps to overtake Australia in second spot, but a loss would see them fall to fifth.

Despite losing the Commonwealth Bank Test series to Australia 2-0 and languishing in seventh before the update, India benefitted from England and Pakistan’s slip-ups to rise to fourth in the rankings, level with New Zealand on 99 points.

Sri Lanka dropped to sixth, one point behind England and Pakistan. The annual update ensures the ICC Team rankings reflect recent form, with results from 2011-12 now dropped from the rankings calculation.